National Building Code of the Philippines PDF

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE CHAPTER 1 – GENERAL PROVISIONS NATIONALPHILIPPINES BUILDING Title...

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE CHAPTER 1 – GENERAL PROVISIONS NATIONALPHILIPPINES BUILDING Title Declaration of Policy CODE OF THE Scope and Application PHILIPPINES General Building Requirements Site Requirements Definitions CHAPTER 2 - ADMINISTRATION AND SECTION 203. General Powers and Functions of the Secretary under this ENFORCEMENT Code For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Code, the Secretary shall exercise the following general powers and functions: SECTION 201. Responsibility for Administration and (1) Formulate policies, plans, standards and guidelines on building design, construction, use, Enforcement occupancy and maintenance, in accordance with this Code. The administration and enforcement of the provisions of this (2) Issue and promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Code and ensure compliance with policies, plans, standards and guidelines formulated under paragraph Code including the imposition of penalties for administrative 1 of this Section. violations thereof is hereby vested in the Secretary of Public Works, (3) Evaluate, review, approve and/or take final action on changes and/or amendments to Transportation and Communications, hereinafter referred to as the existing Referral Codes as well as on the incorporation of other referral codes which are not yet expressly made part of this Code. “Secretary”. (4) Prescribe and fix the amount of fees and other charges that the Building Official shall collect in connection with the performance of regulatory functions. SECTION 205. Building Officials SECTION 206. Qualifications of Building Officials Except as otherwise provided herein, the Building Official No person shall be appointed as a Building Official unless he shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this Code in possesses the following qualifications: the field as well as the enforcement of orders and decisions made 1. A Filipino citizen and of good moral character. pursuant thereto. 2. A duly registered architect or civil engineer. Due to the exigencies of the service, the Secretary may designate 3. A member of good standing of a duly accredited organization of incumbent Public Works District Engineers, City Engineers and his profession for not less than two years. Municipal Engineers to act as Building Officials in their respective 4. Has at least five years of diversified and professional experience areas of jurisdiction. in building design and construction. SECTION 207. Duties of a Building Official SECTION 209. Exemption In the performance of his duties, a Building Official may enter any building Public buildings and traditional indigenous family dwellings or its premises at all reasonable times to inspect and determine compliance with shall be exempt from payment of building permit fees. the requirements of this Code, and the terms and conditions provided for in the As used in this Code, the term “traditional indigenous family building permit as issued. dwelling” means a dwelling intended for the use and occupancy by When any building work is found to be contrary to the provisions of this the family of the owner only and constructed of native materials Code, the Building Official may order the work stopped and prescribe the terms such as bamboo, nipa, logs, or lumber, the total cost of which does and/or conditions when the work will be allowed to resume. Likewise, the not exceed fifteen thousand pesos. Building Official is authorized to order the discontinuance of the occupancy or use of any building or structure or portion thereof found to be occupied or used contrary to the provisions of this Code. CHAPTER 3 - PERMITS AND SECTION 302. Application for Permits INSPECTION In order to obtain a building permit, the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing and on the prescribed form from the Office of the Building Official. Every application shall provide at least the following information: SECTION 301. Building Permits (1) A description of the work to be covered by the permit applied for; No person, firm or corporation, including any agency or (2) Certified true copy of the TCT covering the lot on which the proposed work is to be done. If instrumentality of the government shall erect, construct, alter, the applicant is not the registered owner, in addition to the TCT, a copy of the contract of lease repair, move, convert or demolish any building or structure or shall be submitted; cause the same to be done without first obtaining a building permit (3) The use or occupancy for which the proposal work is intended; therefor from the Building Official assigned in the place where the (4) Estimated cost of the proposed work. subject building is located or the building work is to be done. To be submitted together with such application are at least five sets of corresponding plans and specifications prepared, signed and sealed by a duly registered mechanical engineer in case of mechanical plans, and by a registered electrical engineer in case of electrical plans, except in those cases exempted or not required by the Building Official under this Code. SECTION 305. Validity of Building Permits SECTION 306. Non-Issuance, Suspension or Revocation of Whenever the issuance of a permit is based on approved plans and Building Permits specifications which are subsequently found defective, the Building Official is The Building Official may order or cause the non-issuance, not precluded from requiring permittee to effect the necessary corrections in suspension or revocation of building permits on any or all of the said plans and specifications or from preventing or ordering the stoppage of following reasons or grounds: any or all building operations being carried on thereunder which are in (a) Errors found in the plans and specifications; violation of this Code. (b) Incorrect or inaccurate data or information supplied; A building permit issued under the provisions of this Code shall expire and (c) Non-compliance with the provisions of this Code or of any rule become null and void if the building or work authorized therein is not or regulation. commenced within a period of one year from the date of such permit, or if the Notice of non-issuance, suspension or revocation of building building or work so authorized is suspended or abandoned at any time after it permits shall always be made in writing, stating the reason or has been commenced, for a period of 120 days. grounds therefor. SECTION 307. Appeal SECTION 308. Inspection and Supervision of Work The owner of the Building who is issued or granted a building permit under this Code shall engage the services of a duly licensed architect or civil engineer to undertake the full time Within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of advice of the inspection and supervision of the construction work. non-issuance, suspension or revocation of permits, the Such architect or civil engineer may or may not be the same architect or civil engineer who is responsible for the design of the building. applicant/permittee may file an appeal with the Secretary who shall It is understood however that in either case, the designing architect or civil engineer is not render his decision within fifteen days from date of receipt of notice precluded from conducting inspection of the construction work to check and determine of appeal. The decision of the Secretary shall be final subject only to compliance with the plans and specifications of the building as submitted. review by the Office of the President. There shall be kept at the jobsite at all times a logbook wherein the actual progress of construction including tests conducted, weather conditions and other pertinent data are to be recorded. CHAPTER 4 - TYPES OF SECTION 309. Certificate of Occupancy No building or structure shall be used or occupied and no change in the CONSTRUCTION existing use or occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion SECTION 401. Types of Construction thereof shall be made until the Building Official has issued a Certificate of Occupancy therefor as provided in this Code. For purposes of this Code, all buildings proposed for construction shall be classified or identified according to the following types: A Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued by the Building Official within thirty (30) days if after final inspection and submittal of a Certificate of (1) Type I – Type I buildings shall be of wood construction. The structural Completion referred to in the preceding Section, it is found that the building or elements may be any of the materials permitted by this Code. structure complies with the provisions of this Code. (2) Type II – Type II buildings shall be of wood construction with protective The Certificate of Occupancy shall be posted or displayed in a conspicuous fire-resistant materials and one-hour fire-resistive throughout: Except, that place on the premises and shall not be removed except upon order of the permanent non-bearing partitions may use fire-retardant treated wood within Building Official the framing assembly.  CHAPTER 5 - REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE (3) Type III – Type III buildings shall be of masonry and wood construction. ZONES Structural elements may be any of the materials permitted by this Code: Provided, that the building shall be one-hour fire-resistive throughout. Exterior SECTION 501. Fire Zones Defined walls shall be of incombustible fire-resistive construction. (4) Type IV – Type IV buildings shall be of steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction. Walls, ceilings, and permanent partitions shall be of Fire zones are areas within which only certain types of buildings incombustible fire-resistive construction: Except, that permanent non-bearing are permitted to be constructed based on their use or occupancy, partitions of one-hour fire-resistive construction may use fire-retardant treated wood within the framing assembly. type of construction, and resistance to fire. (5) Type V – Type V buildings shall be fire-resistive. The structural elements shall be of steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction. Walls, ceilings, and permanent partitions shall be of incombustible fire-resistive construction. SECTION 506. Restrictions on Existing Buildings Existing buildings or structures in fire zones that do not comply with the (d) Additions thereto are separated from the existing building by requirements for a new building erected therein shall not hereafter be fire walls, as set forth in Sub-section 604 (b); enlarged, altered, remodeled, repaired or moved except as follows: (a) Such building is entirely demolished; (e) Damage from fire or earthquake, typhoons or any fortuitous event may be repaired, using the same kind of materials of which (b) Such building is to be moved outside the limits of the more highly restrictive the building or structure was originally constructed, provided that, Fire Zone to a zone where the building meets the minimum standards; the cost of such repair shall not exceed twenty percent of the (c) Changes, alterations and repairs may be made provided that in any replacement cost of the building or structure. 12-month period, the value of the work does not exceed twenty percent of the value of the existing building, and provided that, such changes do not add additional combustible material, and do not, in the opinion of the Building Official, increase the fire hazard; CHAPTER 6 - FIRE-RESISTIVE CHAPTER 7 - CLASSIFICATION AND REQUIREMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION GENERAL REQUIREMENT OF ALL SECTION 601. Fire-Resistive Rating defined BUILDINGS BY USE OR OCCUPANCY SECTION 701. Occupancy Classified Fire-resistive rating means the degree to which a material can (a) Buildings proposed for construction shall be identified according to their use or the withstand fire as determined by generally recognized and accepted character of its occupancy and shall be classified as follows: testing methods. (1) Group A – Residential Dwellings Group A Occupancies shall be dwellings. (2) Group B – Residentials, Hotels and Apartments Group B Occupancies shall be multiple dwelling units including boarding or lodging houses, hotels, apartment buildings, row houses, convents, monasteries and other similar building each of which accommodates more than 10 persons. (3) Group C – Education and Recreation (5) Group E – Business and Mercantile Group C Occupancies shall be buildings used for school or day-care purposes, Group E Occupancies shall include: involving assemblage for instruction, education, or recreation, and not classified in Division 1 – Gasoline filling and service stations, storage garages and boat storage Group I or in Division 1 and 2 or Group H Occupancies. structures where no work is done except exchange of parts and maintenance requiring no open flame, welding, or the use of highly flammable liquids. (4) Group D – Institutional Division 2 – Wholesale and retail stores, office buildings, drinking and dining Group D Occupancies shall include: establishments having an occupant load of less than one hundred persons, printing Division 1 – Mental hospitals, mental sanitaria, jails, prisons, reformatories, and plants, police and fire stations, factories and workshops using not highly flammable or combustible materials and paint stores without bulk handlings. buildings were personal liberties of inmates are similarly restrained. Division 3 – Aircraft hangars and open parking garages where no repair work is done Division 2 – Nurseries for full-time care of children under kindergarten age, except exchange of parts and maintenance requiring no open flame, welding or the use hospitals, sanitaria, nursing homes with non-ambulatory patients, and similar of highly flammable liquids. buildings each accommodating more than five persons. (6) Group F – Industrial Division 3 – Nursing homes for ambulatory patients, homes for children of Group F Occupancies shall include: ice plants, power plants, pumping plants, cold kindergarten age or over, each accommodating more than five persons: Provided, storage, and creameries, factories and workshops using incombustible and that Group D Occupancies shall not include buildings used only for private or family non-explosive materials, and storage and sales rooms for incombustible and group dwelling purposes. non-explosive materials. (7) Group G – Storage and Hazardous (8) Group H – Assembly Other Than Group I Groups G Occupancies shall include: Group H Occupancies shall include: Division 1 – Storage and handling of hazardous and highly flammable Division 1 – Any assembly building with a stage and an occupant load of material. less than 1000 in the building. Division 2 – Storage and handling of flammable materials, dry cleaning Division 2 – Any assembly building without stage and having an occupant plants using flammable liquids; paint stores with bulk handling, paint shops load of 300 or more in the building. and spray painting rooms. Division 3 – Any assembly building without a stage and having an occupant Division 3 – Wood working establishments, planning mills and box load of less than 300 in the building. factories, shops, factories where loose combustible fibers or dust are Division 4 – Stadia, reviewing stands, amusement park structures not manufactured, processed or generated; warehouses where highly combustible included within Group I or in Division 1, 2, and 3 of this Group. materials is stored. Division 4 – Repair garages. Division 5 – Aircrafts repair hangars. (9) Group I – Assembly Occupant Load 1000 or More SECTION 704. Location on Property Group I Occupancies shall be any assembly building with a stage and an occupant load of 1000 or more in the building. (10) Group J – Accessory (a) General Group J Occupancies shall include: No building shall be constructed unless it adjoins or has direct access to a public space, yard or street on at least one of its sides. Division 1 – Private garage, carports, sheds and agricultural buildings. For the purpose of this Section, the center line of an adjoining street or alley Division 2 – Fences over 1.80 meters high, tanks and towers. shall be considered an adjacent property line. (b) Other subgroupings or divisions within Groups A to J may be determined Eaves over required windows shall not be less than 750 millimeters from by the Secretary. Any other occupancy not mentioned specifically in this the side and rear property lines. Section, or about which there is any question, shall be included in the Group which it most nearly resembles based on the existing or proposed life and fire hazard. (b) Fire Resistance of Walls SECTION 707. Maximum Height of Buildings Exterior walls shall have fire resistance and opening protection in The maximum height and number of storeys of every building shall be accordance with the requirements set forth by the Secretary. Projections dependent upon the character of occupancy and the type of construction as beyond the exterior wall shall not exceed beyond a point one-third the distance determined by the Secretary considering population density, building bulk, widths of streets and car parking requirements. The height shall be measured from an assumed vertical plane located where the fire-resistive protection of from the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface: Provided, that the openings is first required to the location on property whichever is the least height measured from the lowest adjoining surface shall not exceed such restrictive. Distance shall be measured at right angles from the property line. maximum height by more than 3.00 meters: Except, that towers, spires, and When openings in exterior walls are required to be protected due to distance steeples, erected as part of a building and not used for habitation or storage are limited as to height only by structural design if completely of incombustible from property line, the sum of the areas of such openings in any storey shall materials, or may extend not to exceed 6.00 meters above the height limits for not exceed 50 percent of the total area of the wall in that storey. each occupancy group if of combustible materials. SECTION 708. Minimum Requirements for Group A Dwellings (d) Foundation (a) Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy Footings shall be of sufficient size and strength to support the The dwelling shall occupy not more than ninety percent of a corner load of the dwelling and shall be at least 250 millimeters thick and lot and eighty percent of an inside lot, and subject to the provisions on 600 millimeters below the surface of the ground. Easements of Light and View of the Civil Code of Philippines, shall be at least 2 meters from the property line. (e) Post (b) Light and Ventilation The dimensions of wooden posts shall be those found in Table Every dwelling shall be so constructed and arranged as to provide adequate light and ventilation as provided under Section 805 to Section 708-A: Dimensions of Wooden Posts (Annex B-1). Each post shall be 811, of this Code. anchored to such footing by straps and bolts of adequate size. (c) Sanitation Every dwelling shall be provided with at least one sanitary toilet and adequate washing and drainage facilities. (f) Floor (i) Entrance and Exit The live load of the first floor shall be at least 200 kilograms per square There shall be at least one entrance and another one for exit. meter and for the second floor, at least 150 kilograms per square meter. (j) Electrical Requirements (g) Roof All electrical installation shall conform to the requirements of the The wind load for roofs shall be at least 120 kilograms per square meter for Philippine Electrical Code. vertical projection. (k) Mechanical Requirements (h) Stairs Mechanical systems and/or equipment installation shall be subject to the Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in clear width, with a rise of 200 requirement of the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code. millimeters and a minimum run of 200 millimeters. CHAPTER 8 - LIGHT AND VENTILATION SECTION 804. Size and Dimensions of Courts SECTION 801. General Requirements of Light and Ventilation (a) Subject to the provisions of the Civil Code of the Philippines on Easements (a) Minimum size of courts and their least dimensions shall be governed by the of Light and View, and to the provisions of this part of the Code, every building use, type of construction, and height of the building as provided in the rules shall be designed, constructed, and equipped to provide adequate light and and regulations promulgated by the Secretary, provided that the minimum ventilation. horizontal dimension of court shall be not less than 2.00 meters. (b) All buildings shall face a street or public alley or a private street which has (b) All inner courts shall be connected to a street or yard, either by a been duly approved. passageway with a minimum width of 1.20 meters or by a door through a room (c) No building shall be altered nor arranged so as to reduce the size of any or rooms. room or the relative area of windows to less than that provided for buildings under this Code, or to create an additional room, unless such additional room conforms to the requirements of this Code. (d) No building shall be enlarged so that the dimensions of the required court or yard would be less than that prescribed for such building. SECTION 805. Ceiling Heights SECTION 806. Size and Dimensions of Rooms SECTION 807. Air Space Requirements in Determining the Size of Rooms SECTION 808. Window Openings CHAPTER 10 - BUILDING PROJECTION SECTION 1005. Canopies (Marquees) OVER PUBLIC STREETS (a) Definition: A canopy or marquee is a permanent roofed SECTION 1001. General Requirements structure above a door attached to and supported by the building and projecting over a wall or sidewalk. This includes any object or decoration attached thereto. (a) No part of any building or structure or any of its appendages shall project beyond the property line of the building site, except as (b) Projection and Clearance. The horizontal clearance between the provided in this Code. outermost edge of the marquee and the curb line shall be not less than 300 millimeters. The vertical clearance between the pavement or ground line and the undersurface of any part the marquee shall not be less than 3.00 meters. (c) Construction. A marquee shall be constructed of incombustible SECTION 1006. Movable Awnings or Hoods material or materials of not less than two-hours fire-resistive construction. It shall be provided with necessary drainage facility. (a) Definition. An awning is a movable shelter supported entirely from an (d) Location. Every marquee shall be so located as not to interfere exterior wall of a building and of a type which can be retracted, folded, or with the operation of any exterior standpipe connection or to collapsed against the face of a supporting building. obstruct the clear passage from stairway exits from the building or (b) Clearance. The horizontal clearance between the awning and the curb line the installation or maintenance of electroliers. shall not be less than 300 millimeters. The vertical clearance between the undermost surface of the awning and the pavement or ground line shall be not less than 2.40 meters. Collapsible awnings shall be so designated that they shall not block a required exit when collapsed or folded.  CHAPTER 11 - PROTECTION OF SECTION 1007. Doors, Windows, and the like PEDESTRIANS DURING CONSTRUCTION OR DEMOLITION Doors, windows, and the like less than 2.40 meters above the SECTION 1101. General Requirements pavement or groundline shall not, when fully opened or upon (a) No person shall use or occupy a street, alley or public sidewalk for the opening, project beyond the property line except fire exit doors. performance of work covered by a building permit except in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. (b) No person shall perform any work on any building or structure adjacent to a public way in general use for pedestrian travel, unless the pedestrians are protected as specified in this Chapter. (c) Any material or structure temporarily occupying public property, including fence, canopies, and walkways, shall be adequately lighted, between sunset and sunrise. SECTION 1102. Storage in Public Property SECTION 1103. Mixing Mortar on Public Property The mixing of mortar, concrete, or similar materials on public Materials and equipment necessary for work to be done under a streets shall not be allowed. permit when placed or stored on public property shall not obstruct free and convenient approach to and use of any fire hydrant, fire or SECTION 1104. Protection of Utilities police alarm box, utility box, catch basin, or manhole and shall not interfere with any drainage of any street or alley gutter. All public or private utilities above or below the ground shall be protected from any damage by any work being done under the permit. The protection shall be maintained while such work is being done and shall not obstruct the normal functioning of any such utility. SECTION 1105. Walkway SECTION 1106. Pedestrian Protection (a) When the Building Official authorizes a sidewalk to be fenced or (a) Protection Required. Pedestrian traffic shall be protected by a railing on the closed, or in case there is no sidewalk in front of the building site street side when the walkway extends into the roadway, by a railing when during construction or demolition, a temporary walkway of not less adjacent to excavations, and by such as set forth in Table 1106-A: Type of than 1.20 meters wide shall be provided. Protection Required for Pedestrians (Annex B-2). (b) The walkway shall be capable of supporting a uniform live load (b) Railings. Adequate railings when required shall be built substantially strong of 650 kilograms per square meter. A durable wearing surface shall and should be at least 1.00 meter in height. be provided throughout the construction period. (c) Fences. Fences shall be built of an approved material, not less than 2.40 meters in height above grade, and be placed on the side of the walkway nearest to the building site. Fences shall enclose entirely the building site. Openings in such fences shall be provided with doors which shall be kept closed at all times. SECTION 1107. Maintenance and Removal of Protective Devices (d) Canopies. The protective canopy shall have a clear height of 2.40 meters above the railway, and shall be structurally safe. Every canopy shall have a solid fence built along its entire length on the construction side. If materials are (a) Maintenance. All protective devices shall be properly maintained in place stored or work is done on top of the canopy, the edge along the street shall be and kept in good order for the entire length of time pedestrians may be protected by a tight curb board not less than 300 millimeters high and a railing endangered. not less than 1.00 meter high shall be provided. The entire structure shall be (b) Removal. Every protective fence or canopy shall be removed within 30 days designed to carry the loads imposed upon it: Provided, that the live load shall after such protection is no longer required as determined by the Building be not less than 600 kilograms per square meter. Official.  CHAPTER 12 - GENERAL DESIGN AND SECTION 1108. Demolition CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS (a) The work of demolishing any building shall not be commenced until all the necessary pedestrian protective structures are in place. SECTION 1201. General Requirements (b) The Building Official may require the permittee to submit plans, Buildings proposed for construction shall comply with all the regulations specifications and complete schedule of demolition. When so and specifications herein set forth governing quality, characteristics and properties of materials, methods of design and construction, type of occupancy required, no work shall be done until such plans, specifications and and classification. schedule are approved by the Building Official. All other matters relative to the structural design of all buildings and other structures not provided for in this Chapter shall conform with the provisions of the National Structural Code of Buildings, as adopted and promulgated by the Board of Civil Engineering pursuant to Republic Act Number 544, as amended, otherwise known as the “Civil Engineering Law”. CHAPTER 13 - ELECTRICAL AND CHAPTER 15 - PRE-FABRICATED MECHANICAL REGULATIONS CONSTRUCTION SECTION 1301. Electrical Regulations SECTION 1501. Prefabricated Assembly All electrical systems, equipment and installation mentioned in this Code shall conform to the provisions of the Philippine Electrical Code, as adopted by (a) Prefabricated assembly is a structural unit, the integral parts of the Board of Electrical Engineering pursuant to Republic Act No. 184 which have been built up or assembled prior to incorporation in the otherwise known as the Electrical Engineering Law. building. SECTION 1302. Mechanical Regulations (b) The Secretary shall prescribe special tests to determine the All mechanical systems, equipment and installations mentioned in this Code structural adequacy, durability, soundness, weather and fire shall conform to the provisions of the Philippine Mechanical Engineering code, resistance of prefabricated assemblies. as adopted by the Board of Mechanical Engineering pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 294 as amended, otherwise known as the Mechanical Engineering Law. (c) Every device or system to connect prefabricated assemblies shall CHAPTER 18 – GLASS AND GLAZING be capable of developing the strength of the different members as an integral structure. Except, in the case of members forming part SECTION 1801. General Requirements of a structural frame as specified in this Code. (a) This Chapter shall apply to exterior glass and glazing in all Occupancies except Groups A, B, and J Occupancies not over three storeys in height, and to interior and exterior glass and glazing in all (d) Placement of prefabricated assemblies shall be inspected to occupancies subject to human impact as specified in this Code. determine compliance with this Code. (b) Standards for materials shall conform to the provisions set by the Secretary on glass dimensional tolerances, breaking stress levels, and design safety factors. CHAPTER 20 – SIGNS SECTION 2002. Maintenance SECTION 2001. General Requirements All signs, together with all of their supports, braces, guys, and (a) No sign or signboard shall be erected in such a manner as to anchors, shall be kept in repair and in proper state of preservation. confuse or obstruct the view or interpretation of any official traffic The display of all signs shall be kept neatly painted and secured at sign, signal, or device. all times. (b) No sign or signboard shall be constructed as to unduly obstruct the natural view of the landscape, distract or obstruct the view of the public as to constitute a traffic hazard, or otherwise defile, debase or offend aesthetic and cultural values and traditions. SECTION 2003. Design and Construction SECTION 2005. Projections and Clearances Sign structures shall be designed and constructed to resist all (a) Clearances from High Voltage Power Lines – Clearances of signs forces in accordance with the National Structural Code for from high voltage power lines shall be in accordance with the Philippine Electrical Code. Buildings. For signs on buildings, the dead lateral loads shall be transmitted through the structural frame of the building to the (b) Clearances from Fire Escapes, Exits, or Standpipes – No signs or sign structures shall be erected in such a manner than any portion ground in such a manner as not to overstress any of the elements of of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use the building. The weight of earth superimposed over footings may of any fire escape, exit, or standpipe. be used in determining the dead load resisting moment. Such earth shall be carefully placed and thoroughly compacted. (c) Obstruction of Openings. No sign shall obstruct any opening to such an SECTION 2006. Lighting extent that light or ventilation is reduced to a point below that required by this Code. Signs erected within 1.50 meters of an exterior wall in which there are openings within the area of the sign shall be constructed of incombustible Signs shall be illuminated only by electrical means in accordance material or approved plastics. with the Philippine Electrical Code. (d) Projection over Alleys. No sign or sign structure shall project into any public alley below a height of 3.00 meters above established sidewalk grade, nor project more than 300 millimeters where the sign structure is located 3.00 meters to 4.5 meters above established sidewalk grade. The sign or sign structure must not project more than 1.00 meter into the public alley where the sign or sign structure is located more than 4.50 meters above established sidewalk grade. CHAPTER 21 – TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS SECTION 2102. Interim Rules and Regulations SECTION 2101. Existing Building and Structures Interim rules and regulations on buildings promulgated by the All buildings or structures constructed under R.A. 6541 or Secretary before the adoption of this Code pursuant to existing laws existing city or municipal building codes or ordinances, if legally or decrees shall continue to have binding force and effect, when not done in accordance therewith, shall be respected subject to such in conflict with the provisions of this Code. limitations established in this Code. However, alterations, additions, conversions and/or repairs to be made in such buildings or structures shall be subject to the provisions of this Code. SECTION 2103. Separability Clause SECTION 2104. Repealing Clause If any provision of this Decree or the application thereof is to any All laws, decrees, provisions of charters, executive orders, person or circumstance declared unconstitutional or invalid for any ordinances, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or reason, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions. inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. SECTION 2105. Effectivity This Decree shall take effect upon its promulgation.